Archive Record
Images
Metadata
Title |
Oral History of Larry "the Hat" Lautzker |
Collection |
Oral History |
Scope & Content |
In this oral history, Mill Valley merchant and community events organizer Larry "the Hat" Lautzker recounts the story of his life and how he came to find his home in Mill Valley. Born in Brooklyn, New York, Larry came out to California on a LSD-fueled bus trip in 1970, and moved into the Good Earth Commune in the Haight-Ashbury district. Larry shares wild stories from this period, giving a detailed description of the Commune's resistance to the "redevelopment" of the neighborhood. In the mid-1970s, Larry moved over to Marin, working in the music business as a booking agent for local bands, and eventually producing big shows at the Phoenix Theater in Petaluma. Larry recounts how he got into fashion in the mid-1980s, opening his first clothing store in San Rafael in 1986. A few years later, he moved his store Famous for Our Look--subsequently renamed Famous4--to Mill Valley, initially to a location on East Blithedale before settling in downtown at 96 Throckmorton. Larry describes how he became active in the community, revamping the Memorial Day Parade and establishing the notorious "Fashion Police," as well as his development of the Block Party. Larry concludes this oral history expressing how blessed he feels to be part of Mill Valley and his joy at giving back to the community. |
Audio and Transcript |
Click here to hear recording. Click here to read the transcript. |
Dates of Creation |
2017-07-10 |
Interviewee |
Lautzker, Larry |
Interviewer |
Schwartz, Debra |
Extent and Medium |
Transcript: 38pp Recording: 01:44:54 |
Search Terms |
Bill Graham Presents Block party Crosby, David Drug addiction Famous for Our Look Famous4 Fashion Police Good Earth Commune Haight-Ashbury redevelopment Hicks, Dan Horse Hill I Love A Parade Leis, Joe Liberatore, Paul Memorial Day Parade Moe, Paul MV history - Digital era (1990s) Oral history - Local business Oral history - Volunteerism, activism Plaza Poker Season of the Witch Serra, Tony Steve & Kate's Camp Waldeck, Cliff Winterfest |
Object ID |
2017.112.001 |
Object Name |
Recording |
Copyrights |
Transcript and recording copyright Mill Valley Public Library, 2017. Materials are made available for research purposes only; all rights are reserved to the Mill Valley Public Library. Requests for permission to quote for publication or for any other usage must be obtained from the Library. |